Join Poachers on parade

Hundreds of people are expected to line the city's High Street for a homecoming parade in honour of Lincolnshire's soldiers.

For the past three weeks the Echo has been campaigning to get support for the men and women from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment who have returned from their second tour in Iraq.

So far, scores of people have pledged their support for the troops – know as the Poachers – including groups of schoolchildren, former servicemen, family members and armed forces cadets.

Paul Banks from the combined cadet force at Lincoln Priory LSST said it was an honour to be taking the future of the armed forces to the parade tomorrow.

"I know that the children would want to be a part of this as many of them will progress to the armed forces themselves," he said.

William Farr School in Welton is also taking a bus-load of children to stand on the sidelines at the parade.

Several hundred veterans from the Royal British Legion are expected to be there as well as city dignitaries and county councillors.

The parade will take place at 12.15pm tomorrow from the City Square in Lincoln up the High Street.

The Echo is also offering free black and yellow Poacher wristbands to help drum up support for the 250 men and women.

They are available from the Echo reception.

All the regiment is asking in return is that anyone who takes a wristband shows up for the march.

Lincoln MP Gillian Merron has confirmed she is trying to get out of Parliamentary duties to attend the event.

For more on the Poachers' homecoming parade, see Wednesday's Echo.